Device for handling, progressing, and turning a wheel-equipped axle



July 20, 1948- s. w. JOHNSON ETAL 2,445,436

DEVICE FOR HANDLING, PROGRESSING AND TURNING A WHEEL-EQUIPPED AXLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 5, 1945 July 20, 1.948.4

DEVICE FI'OR HANDLING, PROGRESSING AND TURNING A WHEEL-EQUIPPED AXLE Filed Feb. 5, 1945 4 Sherets-Sheet 2 @by 2; ff

f4 33 3/32 Z8 5 Z9 4.3 Z7 j? Z8 s w. JOHNSON x-:T A1. 2,445,436

Filed Feb. 5, 1945 July 20, 1948 y s. w. JoHNsoN ETAL 2,445,436

DEVICE FOR HANDLING, PROGRESSING AND TURNING' A WHEEL-EQUIPPED AXLE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 INVENToRs l' l M170/mm ze/mf Zwremm/h' July 20,1948. W JOHNSON E-rAL 2,445,436

. DEVICE FOR HANDLING, PROGRESSING AND TURNING A wHEEL-EQUIPPED AXLE Filed Feb. 5, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented `uly 20, T948 DEVICE FOR HANDLING, PROGRESSING, AND TURNING A WHEEL-EQUIPPED AXLE Sigurd W. Johnson, Minneapolis, and Clement G. Zarembinski, St. Paul, Minn.

Application February 5, 1945, Serial No. 576,346

This invention relates to a structure and mechanism for handling, progressing and turning a wheel-equipped axle.` While the invention is applicable to various kinds of wheels and axles, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated it is applied to a pair of railway wheels and the axle on which they are carried. It is customary to have a pair of wheels placed in a certain spaced relation on an axle and to then bring the axle and wheels into substantial axial alinement with a pressing means adapted to press the wheels into nal position on said axle and in positions closer together. It is also customary to roll the wheels and axle to said pressing means on a pair of rails and to roll the wheels and axle away -from said pressing means on a pair of rails, one of the rails of said first mentioned pair constituting a rail of said second mentioned pair. Said axle and wheels are quite heavy and it is quite a task to turn the same to have them roll or move in diierent directions. I-Ieretofore it has been necessary to use a rather large turntab-le having rails for carrying each of said wheels, the rails on said turntable being adapted to come into alinement with other pairs of rails.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple, comparatively small and eiiicient means whereby a wheel-carrying axle can be easily and conveniently turned and rolled from one pair of rails on to a second pair of rails extending at an angle to said first -mentioned rails.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for turning a wheel-equipped axle or similar device comprising a revoluble member disposed adjacent one rail of each of intersecting pairs of rails, said member having means adapted to be alined substantially with either of said rails and to receive, support and stop the movement of one of said wheels along one of said rails whereby the momentum of the other wheel on said axle causes it to leave its rail and swing in an arc thus'turning said revoluble member and 14 Claims. Y (Cl. 238--1) first mentioned wheel together with means for stopping the movement of said member and of said first mentioned wheel when said wheels come substantially into alinement with the intersecting pair of rails whereupon the impact against said stop causes said first mentioned wheel to leave E rails extending at an angle to said rst mentioned pair, a second member carried by said first mentioned member and rotatable thereon about a vertical axis, said second member carrying means comprising members rotatable about horizontal axes and adapted to be brought by rotation of said second member into substantial alinement with one of each of said pairs of rails and adapted to receive and stop the movement of one of said wheels along its rail whereby said axle and wheels are turned and transferred from said rst pair of rails to said second pair of rails.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a structure for handling and turning a wheel-equipped axle and for moving it toward and from a pressing means comprising a pair of rails extending to said pressing means on which said Wheels roll to said pressing means in one position on said axle, a second pair of rails on which said wheels roll with said axle away from said pressing means with said wheels in another position on said axle, one of the rails of said rst mentioned pair also constituting one of the rails of said second pair, a third pair of rails extending at an angle to said rst mentioned pairs, together with a comparatively small rotating member disposed adjacent one of the rails of said second and third pairs having means for receiving, supporting and stopping the movement of one of said wheels along said second pair of rails whereby said axle and wheels are turned and caused to roll on to said third pair of rails.

It is still further an object of the invention to provide a simple and comparatively small, compact and ecient device for turning a wheelequipped axle comprising a stationary base member, a second member secured thereto and revoluble thereon about a vertical axis, said second member carrying a plurality of spaced and longitudinally alined rollers adapted to receive and support a wheel when rolled thereon from an adjacent rail, together with stops for limiting the rotating movement of said first mentioned member.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be -fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the invention also showing a wheel-equipped axle and a pressing means part of which is shown in horizontal section, some parts being shown in different positions in dotted lines;

Fig. 5 isa horizontal section taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 3, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation showing a'v modied construction;

Fig. 7 is a View in elevation as seenllfromthev'.;

right of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken 'substantiall' on line 8-8 of Fig. 7, as indicated by thearrows;f..

and

Fig. 9 is a vertical section taken' substantially" on the same plane as Fig. 2 showing a sprin'gsused in the device.

Referring to the drawings, a devicefor handlingf. awheel-equipped axle or truck is disclosed.

A press or pressing means -I5 isshownhavingabaserla, `a movable hea-d lb-havingan-axlereceivingv portion or bracket l5c secured thereto by headed bolts I5. .-A stationary head Vor plunger |5d-isa1so shown.- An axlev It has-journal portions ltdl at its ends, wheel-receiving portions between'said j ournal portions and shoulder-formingenlar'gements Ith.- Theaxle It `carries the wheels .|'I having peripheral flanges- I'Ia thereon.

The Wheels I'I are first placed on Ythe axle I5 with light pressure as by hand, as shown-by dotted linesiin Fig; 1. In this initial position of wheels Il theyareadapted to roll and move lon a pair of rails ^|3.- The flanges. Ila, as is customary; are

disposed at the inner or adjacent sidesof rails I8. In practice the wheel-carrying axle.` I6 will be moved from. a convenient point on Vrailsit tov the .press 5. The wheels'and axle will be brought intoiconcentrcror axial relationv .Withthe membersLIc andid and said members will bemoved so that `the journal portions Ita will be received in the; bores or chambers |56.- -The movablehead` leb; will now. .be .moved .and the rwheels will bev broughtto inalposition on the axlefas Shown inl full lineslatvthe top Lof Fig. i1. .The .part-of the axle'l receivingl `thelwheels; is' of slightly greater diameterfthan the boreof the wheel'hubs so that the 7- wheels are pressed. on thecaxle. with great.

force; They arethuspermanentlyiattached The Y wheel-carrying axle now hastheywheelsiinposif.

tion to roll on a pair of railsrconstituting one of the'y rails I8 anda rail i9' andthe/wheelsand axle'f'are rolledy awa-y .frcrrrtheJ pressV I5 on said latterpair of rails.

A third pair of rails 2) -is'provided fand while theserailscoul-d-extend at'variousanglesto the. rails'i I8, they `are shown as .extending substan-f- Y tially ata vright angle. Y. Platesaor platforms1'2l.:

22',-123,..24, 25 and 26 are. disposed: adjacent rails 20 and between' and` .adjacent the rails i8v at the portions thereof near rails 20..; The top surfaces; of plates 2| to 26 are in a plane a. short distance'fff below the tops of the rails1|8,.as shownin Fig.y 2. A turningr device'is provided and comprises a base-member 28 `which :will be Vsecured yin posi-- tion adjacent the-end of rail I Bremote'irompressf I5 and'adjacent .thel endof oney of the .railsn2EL aV As shown in Fig. 2, memberz28restsl' on .a. horizontal surface some distance below'the plates-.2|

and -Will be secu-red to the .concretefou-ndation- 291shown as underlying-plates .2| t0;2fiV 'and'in a recess- 29a in saidffoundation.,V PlateLS willbesecured by suitable bolts 30 passing through the:

elongated holes or slots 28a disposed adjacent the corners of plate 28. A bolt 3| has its head disposed in a recess in the bottom of plate 28 and extends vertically from said plate and through a second plate 32. Plate 32 is held in position by a nut 33 threaded on the top of bolt 3|. Plate 32 is revoluble about bolt 3| and rotatesfon bearings234 illustrated'as of the ball type running in annular grooves: or races'formed in the top of plate 28 and the bottom of plate 32. Secured to the top of plate 32 are oppositely disposed channel members 36, the same having semicirculan bottorn flanges' secured to plate 32 by head'eeb'oitsa'lf The top flanges of members ,'36areralso'lshown as semi-circular, as illustrated inf Fig.; 11. A.Studs 38 have central portions disposed betweenthe Avertical webs of the channel members 36 and have reduced threaded portions extendngfth'rough said Webs and equipped with nuts 39 at the outer sides of said webs. Studs 38 carry the inner races of ballbearingsAIL-thei outerracesbeing formed-in the cen-tralrcylindrical portions of rollers 4| having independent side-- lian-ges ofgreaterfdiameter than said center-porf-l tions.- said side flangesy being `shown as having surfaces curving. outwardly and i upwardly@ from -1 said center portions. It is, important-to notethatnthe -ianges 4| are journalledf` on'the stud-38 for. l. rotarymovements independently of one another. and the other race of theball bearingsfD-so asp,- to reduce friction to a minimum'.whenJthe-wheel. .V flanges roll'thereagainst.` Also,v itvwill |:)e-.notedv thatY the-flanges- @il closefthe Ysides-.'of-the ball e.' bearing'set and overlap the-.marginal-edge por,- tions of the outer races thereof' to preventdirtf.A from-entering the bearing. .Rollers/4| are thus-1. of the groove `type and-revoluble on the bearings. 4B. A clearlyA shownV in Fig; 3, .there are two ofthe rollers 4| and these arespacedfashort distance apart'with their axesinthezsame hori zontal-Iplane. Asl shown in Figs .2 andr, the: rollers GI have theirtopV portionssome `-distance abovathe top surface of the topvanges Yofpchannels36. ,-Plate 23- `hasa corner -portionor 'post .28D upstanding therefrom and a threadedtbolt-f I3 extends throughpost 28h` and'is disposed. so that its end projects somewhat beyond. theinnerf... side of said post. Bolt 43 isiequippedwith-alock-.L ing Inut lili,v Plate 32 is provided-with apairof. projecting'lugsaf Asshown inAFig. 5, one-luga 35a is adapted to engage the endrof bolt `43-in4 one position of plate-32 andthe other-lug .36a isadapted tovengage one sidevof post 28h in another 1 Y position of plate 32.- Said positions areapprox.-

mately` 90 degrees. apart in the. revolution oftplate.

The-turning devicecarried` by plate-2811s dis i posed, asshown in Figi, so that the longitudinaly center line of the alinedrollersk 4| --is approx-i.

-matelyalined. with orat a slight distance ateney side -of rail I9 and plate 32 is-adapted tobe ro. I tated through approximatelyl degrees :sov that Y the longitudinal center line of the rollersAI will. have the samer relationzas-to the. adjacent.raill- 20; Preferably a tensilecoiled spring 45 willhave-v.- oneaend securedto plate 28- and its other-end... securedto plate 32 and willact to normally move. platev 32-to the position shownvin Fig. 1,- (see Fig: 9) VIt willbe noted that-there is a break or space` in the rail I8 adjacent the ends lof rails 20g-f Inv operation as the wheel-carrying axle fmoves' fromthe pressV |5,=the.wheel |'|-,-whichf..runsfv.on raili I9, Awill move onto therturningdeviceuand its peripheral ange l'lwillrrollfonto therollers- 4I'so that said -wheeltakesthe position, as shown in Fig. 3, withV said peripheral flange disposed in the grooves of rollers 4| and supported thereby. When said wheel thus comes into position on rollers 4I its bodily movement or its movement longitudinally of rail I9 is stopped as the rollers 4| revolve under the rotating impulse of wheel I1. It thus has no appreciable friction on rollers 4I. As said wheel comes into position on the rollers 4| and is thus stopped thereby, the inertia or momentum of the other Wheel I1 causes it to leave its rail I8 and swing in an arc indicated by the arrows 50. As said other wheel thus swings it turns the wheel on the turning device and thus the rollers 4I and plate 32 about the axis of bolt 3|. Just before the wheels come into alinement with the rails 2U, one lug 36a engages the end of bolt 43. In practice the bolt 43 has been adjusted so that it is engaged by lug 36a when plate 32 has moved through substantially 85 degrees. When plate 32 and rollers 4I carried thereby are brought to a sudden stop by engagement of lug 36a with bolt 43, the shock or impact causes the wheel to leave rollers 4| and move therefrom on to the adjacent rail 28. Both Wheels are now in alinement with rails 28 respectively and the wheel which left the rail I8 moves on to the other rail 2U and the wheel-carrying axle rolls on rails 20 to the desired point. The movement of the wheel on t-o the turning device, the subsequent swinging movement of the other wheel and the movement of the wheels on to the rails 20 are entirely automatic and the truck or wheel-equipped axle is easily, eiiiciently and quickly directed to the desired place. The laborious movement of the truck or wheel-carrying axle by hand or the operation of a turn-table are thus eliminated In Figs. 6 to 8 a modied for-m of the device is shown. In this form plates 52 and 53 of trapezoidal shape are provided having upwardly inclined surfaces 52a and these are bolted by headed and nutted bolts 54 against the inner sides of rail I9 and the adjacent rail 20 respectively. Plates 52 and 53 rest on the foundation 29 and have one side engaging the head of the rails to which they are secured and said plates have a recess at the bottom thereof tting over the edge portion of the flange of the rails to which they are secured. The turning device is disposed at a higher level so that the top surfaces of channels 36 will be about the same distance below the uppermost portions of surfaces 52a as they were below the tops of the rail-s I9 and 20 in the form already described. Rail I9 can be extended and form a support for plate 48 corresponding to plate 28 already described. Plate 48 has depending lugs 48a which can be disposed at the sides of the head of rail I9. One side of plate 48 will engage or abut the vertical end of the plate 52 and said plate can also rest upon the top of the adjacent rail 28 which can be extended underneath said plate. Plate 48 Will have one or more lugs 48h which will engage the side of rail 20. Plate 48 has a plate 32 and other parts carried thereby secured to itin the same manner as plate 32 already described is secured to plate 28. Plate 48 is also provided with a corner post 48e, similar in all respects to corner post 2812 and having a stop screw 49 therein similar in all respects to stop screw 43 already described. The structure otherwise than as noted will be the same as shown in Figs. 1 to 5.

In operation the wheel Il will roll away from the press I5 on rail I9 and one rail I8 and the wheel on rail I9 will engage the top or upwardly inclined surface of plate v52 with its ilange lla so that said wheel will roll upon plate 52 and on to the rollers 4I. The wheel will be stopped, as already described, and the wheel rolling on the rail I8 will swing in an arc, as already described, turning plate 32, rollers 4I and the wheel carried thereby until the lug 36a on plate 36 engages screw 49. This screw will be set in the same position, as already described, for screw 43. When the lug 36a engages screw 49, the impact of the stop will cause the wheel to leave the rollers 4I and it will move on to the top surface of plate 53 and the other Wheel which has swung in an arc will move on to the other rail 20. 'I'he -Wheel will engage the top of plate 53 with its peripheral flange, which :flange will roll on said plate until the tread of the wheel engages the top of rail 28. Both wheels will then be on rails 20 and will roll to the desired place thereon. It will be noted that the top surfaces of plates 52 and 53 at their lowest points extend some distance below the top surfaces of rails I9 and 28 so that the wheel can easily engage and roll on the inclined surfaces of plates 52 and 53.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a simple, small and very eirlcient turning device for'turning a wheel-equipped axle or truck. The device is fairly simple in construction and is easily made and installed. The device acts automatically and the wheel-carrying axles or trucks are thus very easily, quickly and efficiently handled. A great deal of labor is saved by the device and it is quite inexpensive as compared to apparatus formerly required. It may be stated that the 'operation is more effective when the stop screws 43 and 49 are set to stop plate 32 at slightly less than 90 degrees even though the tracks be at a degree angle. The swinging wheel has enough momentum to move through the full 90 degrees and it correctly positions or alines the wheel on the turning device. The device has been amply demonstrated in actual practice and found to be very successful and efli-cient and is being commercially made.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for turning a pair of railway wheels mounted in spaced relation on a common axle and which Wheels have peripheral flanges at their adjacent sides only, said apparatus corn prising, rails on which said wheels move, a member revoluble on a vertical axis and having means alined with one of said rails adapted to receive and stop the movement of one of said wheels in a direction longitudinally of said rail, whereby the momentum of the other wheel causes it to swing in an arc concentric with the vertical axis of revolution of said member and turn said revoluble member and rst mentioned Wheel, wheel supporting means underlying the arcuate path of travel of said other Wheel and supporting the same during its arcuate travel, and means for stopping the revolution of said member at the desired point whereby the impact of said stopping causes said wheel to leave said means.

2. Apparatus for turning a pair of railway wheels mounted in spaced relation on a common axle and which wheels have peripheral flanges at their adjacent sides onlin-said apparatus comaes-ensei.;

andplstopithe-movement of one of said wheels inA a direction. longitudinally of said rail and comprising'pspacedrevoluble membersA adapted to support the periphery of said wheel whereby the momentumof theotherwheel-causes it to swing in an; arc :about .the vertical axis of and turn said:

revgolublemember, wheel supporting means Aunderlying the arcuate path of travel of saidv other wheel and :supporting-the same during its arcuate--travel,.and means for stopping the revolution,

of saidffmemberat the desired point upon which said` lrsty mentioned wheel leaves' said revoluble members 3. Thestructure setforth in claim 2 and means fonrotating said .revoluble'member to its original position..

4; `Apparatus for turning a l pair of railway wheels, mounted in spaced relation on a common axleyandwhich wheels have peripheral flanges at their adjacent sides only, said apparatus comprising, rails on which said wheels-roll With said axleaomember vrevoluble on a vertical axis and having means alnedvwithv-one of lsaid rails adapted to-receiveandstop the movement of one of saidewheels in adirection longitudinally of said rail, wherebythe momentum of the other wheel causes it to swingin an arc concentric withthe vertical axisvof revolution-of said member and turnrrsaidmember; wheel supporting means underivingv the arcuate path of travel of said other wheel :and:` supporting .the same duringV its arcuate-.vtrave1,- and stops for. limiting the revolution of saidmemberin opposite directions.

5. Apparatus. for turninga pair of railway wheels mounted in` spaced relation onv a common axleA and which wheels have peripheral anges at theiriadjacent'sides` only, said apparatus comn prising-,-railsonzwhich said wheels roll, a base member,` a second: member revoluble about a Vertical axis mounted on and secured to said base member,A a pairof rollers mounted in said secondY member and .having their peripheries longi tudinally alined-with one of Asaid rails, said rollers being adapted to receive and support the periphery of Vone of said :wheels yand to stop the movement thereofglongitudinally of said rail whereby theymomentumof said other wheel will causev it to swing :in anarc and turn said second memn ber substantially concentric with the vertical axis of revolution of saidsisecond` member,y wheel supportingffmeans..zunderlying the arcuate .path of travelfof-t saidiother wheely and supporting the sameiiduring its. arcuate. travel, and means for f stopping therotation-.of said secondfmember and swinging movement of saidother wheel at the desired. :point `whereby said.: wheelv .leaves said rollers.`

6. The"'structurer,setaforthv in claim 5 andav springisecured to; said'fbase member and second member. acting toireturnsaid second member to prising; a pairfofrails on vwhich said vwheelsroll, f

a second-pair;oi?"rails-1extendingA at an anglegto said rai1s, a:,revoluble'.member having a verticalY laxisiof rotation substantially at the pointwhere-` oneof eachof said 'pairs of railswould intersect,

`means carriedby said member adaptedA to aline.

lwithfsaid;last@mentioned rails for receiving, Supportmaandazstopninesthe; progressive 1 movement of one ofvsaidwheel-s wherebythemomentum of said yother; wheel onV-saidqaxleffwill cause it to swingzin; anarc rabout. -the axis vof the` revoluble member and come; intosalinementl with the other rail of said-,secondffpair, wheelsupporting means underlying'theV arcuate (path of travel of said other'wheel and supporting;,the same during its arcuate traveLand--means forfstoppng the rotal.t-ionfof -saidgrnember whensaidmeans is approxi-- matelyg-alined` with said -iirst mentioned rail ofV saidgsecond-pair;

8..,Apparatus-for. V,turning a pairof railway wheels lmounted inV spaced relation lon a common axle; Y said; vwheels :having peripheral4 flanges at lonegside;onlythereof, having-in combination, a

pair-,of railsfon Whichsaid wheels roll with said y angesf atY the adjac entysidesof` said erails, a supporting surface between-said rails, `a member resaid means and firstmentioned wheeLand a stop for stopping the`- movement Y of Saidfmember and means whereby the f impact --against said stop; causes said-first mentioned' wheel to yleave said;`

9. Apparatus1;fori turning.; a spacedfvpairof ripheral vllanges'; at adjaoent sidesthereof` only;

said apparatus comprising, Ia pair of rails on which said; wheelsk rollwithsaid flanges at the adjacentfsidesof said rails, la supporting surface between saidfrails; a member-revoluble about a substantiallyverticalaxis-gwhich axis is disposed substantially in lthe plane of movement of a flange of oneof saidwheels, a pair ofvspaced rrevolublenrollerscarried `by said member having grooves in their peripheries in longitudinal alinement and adapted to aline with the rail on which said wheel runs and to receive and 4support said wheel and stop the bodily movement of said-wheel whereby. the momentum'y of the otherwheel causes it to yswingy-in an -arc on said surface and turnsaidmember withsaid rollers andsaid first mentioned wheel; wheel'supporting means underlying Athe arcuate path of rtravel of said other wheel and supporting the samel'during its arcuate travel,r and ast-opfer stoppingthe movement of said,membenwherebyftheimpact againstJ said stopcausessaid rst mentioned wheel toleave their adjacent sdesonIy, said apparatus com-- prisingpa pair dof :railson which said wheels respectively rollgasecond-zpair-of rails extending;-

substantially perpendicular to andadjacent said first, mentioned rails, a; member disposed ,adjacent one ofv the rails, of eachqofsaid. pairs'andrev.

luble about-a vertical-axis disposedsubstantially at thegmointgvwhere said; Alast mentioned rails wouldfintersect, a pair 4of spaced rollers carried by said member, said rollers being revolubleabout horizontal axis` apdhaving yperipheral;grooves in.

alinemnt; withgeachfl other', said-,fv grooves being ladapted .togcomejnto.substantial alinement with either of said .lastmentionedrails andto receive support and stop the forward movement of one of said wheels whereby the momentum of the other of said wheels causes it to swing in an arc about the said axis of said member and turn said member and rollers to bring the latter with their grooves into substantial alinement with one of said second pair of rails, wheel supporting means underlying the arcuate path of travel of said other wheel and supporting the same during its arcuate travel, and a stop for stopping said member a short distance before said grooves come into such alinement lwhereby the impact against said stop will cause said wheel to leave said rollers and said wheels will roll on to said second mentioned pair of rails.

1l. Apparatus for handling and turning a pair of railway wheels mounted in spaced relation on -a common axle and for transferring said wheels and axle from a wheel pressing means, said wheels having peripheral guide flanges at their adjacent sides only, said apparatus comprising a pair of rails on which said wheels respectively roll toward said pressing means with said wheels in one position on said axle, a second pair of rails on which said wheels respectively roll away from said pressing means with said wheels closer together on said axle, said second pair of rails including one of sai-d first mentioned pair of rails, a third pair of rails extending at an angle to said first mentioned pairs, a member secured in stationary position adjacent one of the rails of said second pair and one of the rails of said third pair, a member carried by said rst mentioned member and rotatable thereon about a vertical axis disposed substantially at the point where said last mentioned rails would intersect, means comprising a member rotatable about a horizontal axis carried by said second member adapted to aline with either of said last mentioned rails and constructed and arranged to receive support and stop the movement of one of said wheels along one of said rails whereby the momentum of the other of said wheels will cause it to swing in an arc about said axis and will turn said second member and means with said first mentioned wheel, and means for stopping the rotation of said member and first mentioned `wheel when said means come into approximate alinement with yone of said third pair of rails, wheel supporting means underlying the arcuate path of travel of said other wheel and supporting the same during its arcuate travel, whereby the impact against said stop will cause said first mentioned wheel to leave said last mentioned member and said wheels `will roll on to said third pair lof rails.

12. Apparatus for turning a pair of wheels on a common axle comprising a base member, a second member journalled on the base member for rotation about a vertical axis,'a pair of roller elements journalled on the said second member on horizontally spaced parallel axes, the axes of the said roller elements being substantially equally spa-ced on opposite sides of the vertical axis of the second member, said spaced roller elements being adapted to jointly support one of said pair of wheels and permit free turning thereof on its own axis while the said pair of wheels is turning about the vertical axis of the second member, and spaced stops for limiting rotary movement of the second member in. opposite `directions of rotation.

13. A device for turning a pair of railway wheels mounted on a common axle having in combination, with pairs of rails extending at an angle to each other, a base member, a second member secured to and revoluble on said member about a vertical axis, means carried by said second member adapted to aline approximately with one rail lof each `of said pairs thereof respectively and constructed and arranged to receive a wheel from one such rail and support and stop the progressive 'movement of said wheel, members having inclined surfaces extending upwardly from the tops of said one rail of each pair thereof to adjacent said means and adapted to have a portion of the periphery of said wheel roll thereon to said means, and means for securing said last mentioned members to said rails.

14. A device for turning a pair of railway wheels mounted on a common axle having in combination, with pairs of rails extending at an angle to each other, a base member, a Second member secured to and revoluble on said member about a vertical axis, a pair of longitudinally alined rollers carried by said second member revoluble about horizontal axis adapted to receive, support and stop the progressing movement of a wheel, said rollers being adapted to approximately aline with one rail of each pair thereof respectively in the revolution of said second member, plates secured to said rails having top surfaces inclining upwardly from adjacent the tops of said one rail of each pair thereof to adjacent said rollers, on which surfaces said wheel is adapted to roll, means for securing said plates to said rails, and means for limiting the rotating movement of said second member.

SIGURD W. JOHNSON. CLEMENT G. ZAREMBINSKI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,394,489 Funkhouser et al. Oct. 18, 1921 1,446,498 Freshwater et al. Feb. 27, 1923 1,504,558 Hawley Aug. 12, 1924 1,789,647 Flynn Jan. 20, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 247,509 Germany June 1, 1912 

